Portugal’s River of Gold

Duration

Journey Type

Ports

Ship

Setting sail from Porto

Blessed with a dramatic setting on the steep banks of the river
Douro, Portugal's second city is currently enjoying something of a
renaissance. Porto is best known as the home of the country's most
famous export, port wine, but there's a lot more to this
characterful city than getting sloshed; the crumbling historic
centre, Ribeira, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it's a
fascinating district to wander around. Porto also serves as the
gateway to the spectacular Douro valley, a landscape of verdant
vineyards where the city's famous wine is produced.

Don't miss

Walking over the Luís I Bridge for beautiful views over the city and river, and if the steep approach looks a bit much there’s a cable car to help on the South Bank.

15 December

Portugal:
Régua

Peso da Régua (or Régua for short) is the main river port for the vineyards of the Upper Douro Valley, and is the perfect base for exploring the port-wine region. The town itself is not the prettiest, but has some excellent restaurants and an interesting museum.

16 December

Portugal:
Barca d’Alva

17 December

Spain:
Salamanca

Vega de Terrón is the drop-off point for excursions to Salamanca, a beautiful UNESCO-listed city built from golden sandstone. The baroque-style Plaza Mayor is one of the most magnificent squares in Spain, while other highlights include the twin-towered cathedral and the unusual House of Shells.

18 December

Portugal:
Pinhão

The pretty little town of Pinhão, situated on a bend in the Douro, is all about one thing: wine. The surrounding hills are covered in vineyards, and you’ll have ample opportunity to sample a variety of tipples, including the region’s most famous product, port.

19 December

Portugal:
Régua

Peso da Régua (or Régua for short) is the main river port for the vineyards of the Upper Douro Valley, and is the perfect base for exploring the port-wine region. The town itself is not the prettiest, but has some excellent restaurants and an interesting museum.

20 December

Arriving in Porto

Our tip

There are a number of port producers that offer tours and tastings, and we can highly recommend Graham’s.

Your home from home

Custom built to sail Portugal’s beautiful Douro River, Viking’s Douro Ships offer the same high standards as their Longships, with state-of-the-art engineering and streamlined Scandinavian interiors.

What we love

With an elegant yet intimate design, the atmosphere on board is
delightfully relaxed yet with a touch of refinement. The
Restaurant, where all meals are served, has panoramic windows, as
does the lounge which is really the heart of the ship. On the
sundeck there is a shaded sitting area, al fresco dining areas,
swimming pool, putting green and even an organic herb garden.

Capacity

106 Guests

Crew

36 Staff

Style

Understated, elegant on board environment where you can relax
after an enriching day of shore excursions.